God's people are to rejoice and shout aloud, because their King is coming, bringing salvation, and restoring peace. This glorious prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus' coming. He is the long awaited King, who will save his people, protect and care for them. The King's unexpected salvation will magnify his goodness and beauty for all to see.

In these chapters, Zechariah calls the people to spiritual reformation. While they have been scattered among the nations because of their hard hearts, there is hope. The Lord will gather his scattered people, and the nations will seek the LORD in Jerusalem. Together all of God's people - Jew and Gentile - will dwell with him in the heavenly Jerusalem forever.

After envisioning God's return in the first five visions, the next visions picture God's coming judgment of the wicked and the great salvation he will bring about by his power. God brings himself glory in accomplishing salvation through judgment.

Zechariah sees two more visions in which a the High Priest Joshua and the Zerubabbel, the governor, are prepared for the temple of the Lord. All of this will be accomplished not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the LORD. In Jesus our priest and king is here and he gives us access into the very presence of God.

Zechariah was a prophet in the days after Judah's exile into Babylon. As the exiles return to the land, the LORD exhorts them to return to him in a spiritual sense, as well. The Lord promises comfort and restoration for Jerusalem and ultimately he himself will dwell among them. In light of this hope the daughters of Zion are to rejoice and sing.

We the church are citizens of the heavenly kingdom. Our Lord Jesus calls us to be the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world". In other words, our lives should be markedly and visibly different and distinct from those around us, so that they would see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.

Citizens of the kingdom of heaven are those that have received blessing from God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Kingdom citizens are called blessed by Jesus himself, because their life, under the reign of the heavenly king, is the truly blessed life. Do you consider yourself to be blessed in Christ? Are you happy in Jesus? Are you rejoicing for your reward in heaven is great?

In the book of Acts God's Spirit-empowered witnesses boldly proclaim the gospel. It all started with a small, fledgling group of disciples in Jerusalem at Pentecost, but remarkably the good news of Jesus spread like wildfire to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. At last, Paul arrives in Rome and here too he will proclaim that Jesus is the Christ - the hope of Israel and salvation for the Gentiles.